SDMIMD has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre for Advanced Learning (CFAL), Mangaluru, and Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP) to jointly conduct a comprehensive Tree Census in and around Siddharthanagar and adjoining areas of Mysuru city.
The collaboration marks a significant step toward creating a scientific and publicly accessible database of the city’s tree wealth. The initiative aims to promote sustainable urban planning, environmental monitoring, and informed climate action by systematically documenting tree species, size, location, and health across the identified areas.
CFAL will provide the conceptual and methodological framework for the project, adapting its successful “Mangalore Model” of tree enumeration to Mysuru’s context. Mysore Grahakara Parishat will coordinate community participation, facilitate local permissions, and lead public awareness efforts to encourage citizen engagement. SDMIMD, as the academic partner, will contribute through active participation of twenty student volunteers from the ESG Committee and the Drushti (Photography) Committee, who will be involved in field-level data collection, species identification, and photographic documentation.
The collected data will be compiled and made available to the public through open-access platforms, in line with the project’s commitment to open knowledge and environmental transparency. The joint effort also envisions creating a replicable model for collaborative environmental data collection that can inspire similar initiatives across other regions.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. (Lt. Col.) Prasad S.N., Director, SDMIMD, emphasized that this partnership reflects the institution’s commitment to sustainability education and community engagement. He noted that by combining academic learning with field-based environmental action, students gain a deeper understanding of real-world sustainability challenges and develop a stronger sense of environmental responsibility.
Dr. Smitha Hegde, Director (Research) at CFAL, conducted the orientation and training program about the tree census and expressed appreciation for the collaboration and highlighted that the project would contribute to building a data-driven foundation for urban ecological management in Mysuru. Mr Sanjay Dattatri, Member of MGP, represented the Parishad and graced the occasion.
The MoU symbolizes a collective effort by academia, civil society, and environmental experts to nurture Mysuru’s green heritage and promote a culture of shared responsibility toward sustainable urban ecosystems.
